This summer, we're all about making space in your work life for those things YOU consider a priority. So we've asked our University of Graz researcher community about aspects of their daily work life that they have developed a useful routine for - and aspects that still need a “research life hack”.
Interview partner:
- Florina Schalamon, Team CC-MoRe - Institut für Geographie und Raumforschung
Florina Schalamon's daily work:
“I'm a passionate polar scientist with a background in physics and meteorology and several years of experience in glacier and polar field research. My work focuses on analyzing atmospheric data to better understand how climate processes influence Arctic glaciers. Beyond the science itself, I'm also deeply committed to exploring the social dynamics of field-based research and advancing gender equality within academia.”
The "happy hack" that makes Florina more efficient/creative/motivated at work:
"Taking breaks. Honestly, it's the stuff that has nothing to do with work – friends, sports, and having an awesome network of women in (polar) science around me. And just doing the little side quests that excite me, even if they're not directly tied to my main research."
And the challenge in his research life that she still needs a hack for:
"I think the real "hack" I'm still working on is accepting that research has its ups and downs, and that's normal, it's rarely going to be smooth. And the bigger one: making peace with the academic system in general."
What is your own happy hack? Let us know!
Find the full series of interviews here: How to hack your research life - Research Careers Campus Graz
(Interview: Johanna Stadlbauer, 08.07.2026, picture credit: Marjolein Gevers)